http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ Daily Kitten Chat Forum Topic: Help with stray mommy cat en Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:49:33 +0000 http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/17116#post-386583 Tue, 26 May 2009 22:01:59 +0000 lisaeylau 386583@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>I agree with Sheba's mom...big styrofoam containers lined with old towels or blankets make the best mom/kitten shelters. I use the ones from Omaha Steaks. Mom cat can jump in and out, but the sides are too high for the kittens at first, so she can leave them safely. </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/17116#post-382625 Tue, 19 May 2009 13:54:41 +0000 TrufflesMom 382625@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>If you manage to catch her and the kittens are there rescue organizations in your area? You could volunteer to foster the family until a rescue group could place them. </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/17116#post-382611 Tue, 19 May 2009 13:49:35 +0000 Sheba's Mom in Phoenix, AZ 10/8 382611@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>Welcome, and good luck! I used to use the styrofoam containers (I got them from when I had ordered food from QVC) for the ferals. It sounds like she used to belong to someone or she would not let you near her so fast. Siamese tend to bond with their humans so keep trying. Perhaps there is a no-kill shelter in your area to help. </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/17116#post-382386 Tue, 19 May 2009 07:13:21 +0000 SammyandOliversmama 382386@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>*bump* Welcome to TDK, SS3. </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/17116#post-382320 Tue, 19 May 2009 04:56:45 +0000 AV 382320@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>LOL LL!..... Welcome SS3!.... Good advise above!..... Keep a watchful eye, maintain her food source, and build trust.... my bet is she brings the kittens to you if you build a nice safe shelter, like suggested...... the only thing I might add, is make sure you feed her at at time that you can "monitor" it......in other words, choose a time that you can spend sitting near by while she comes out to feed. This is good for two reasons... 1) you'll be sure she is the one eating the food, and not some other night lurker (i.e. racoon, possum, etc.) and 2) it will help you slowly build trust..... you can begin to speak softly to her while she eats, praising her, etc. so she gets used to your voice......Best of luck, and please keep us updated! </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/17116#post-382280 Mon, 18 May 2009 21:41:53 +0000 lisaeylau 382280@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>Ooops, I just read my post, and I suppose, I should clarify....I'm not feral...but I have a feral colony that lives in my apartments...I'm actually tame and was born in a hospital.... ; ) </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/17116#post-382279 Mon, 18 May 2009 21:39:13 +0000 lisaeylau 382279@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>Wow SST! Do I ever feel your pain! I'm a feral "mom" myself and, like all babies, they are loads of fun, rewarding, and sometimes trying and heartbreaking...sort of like husbands!</p> <p>Hang in there feeding your PG mom. That's her best chance to have healthy babies, and healthy babies have the best chance of finding homes. After that you can think about catching her and having her spayed. There is one thing that keeps kitties hanging around more than anything else, and builds trust and you already know that's a steady food source. Your PG mom may be especially skittish while she's expecting...and she'll be more so once she's nursing. </p> <p>Once the kittens arrive, expect her to hide them from you, and possible not bring them out for as much as six weeks...and don't freak out, as long as she keeps coming to eat. She will be very hungry and may get very thin until she brings the kittens to you for solid food. The earlier you can get to the babies, the more likely you will be able to handle and tame them.</p> <p>And once hubby sees those babies, he'll fall apart, I promise. He probably won't let you keep them all, but he won't run them off, either (just kidding...) </p> <p>Keep posting, and I'll keep watching for you. Hang in there! </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/17116#post-380876 Thu, 14 May 2009 20:09:30 +0000 CheetahBoysmommy 380876@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>Wow, you've been lurking for a long time. I'm glad you finally decided to post.</p> <p>If the cat was feral you probably weren't have been able to pet her tonight, so you are probably right that she had a home once.</p> <p>Don't give up on your husband just yet. Yes, he is probably concerned that you might turn into a crazy cat lady, but you might be able to add one cat to your household if you play the cards right.</p> <p>Ask him to help you track down the kittens so you can find them homes. Ask him to help you catch the mama so you can have her fixed. Maybe if he gets involved in helping the mama and babies, he'll realize that he can help reverse the evil of the slime bucket who just dumped their house cat. If he's into the internet, ask him for help finding sites that tell you how to catch a stray. </p> <p>If you let him know that you want to catch mama with her kittens so you can find them safe homes, he may realize that you aren't on your way to being a hoarder. Even if he doesn't decide that a two cat household is okay, you will at least have help in tracking down the babies and making their lives better.</p> <p>An inexpensive way to build a cat shelter is to buy one of those cheap Styrofoam ice chests. The directions are here: <a href="http://www.all-creatures.org/ak/feral-shelter.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.all-creatures.org/ak/feral-shelter.html</a></p> <p>So far as finding the kittens, maybe she'll bring them around if they are old enough to eat solid food. </p> <p>We have members who work with ferals and strays. Hopefully one of them will see your post and be able to give you some good advice on how to find/tame the kittens. </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/17116#post-380836 Thu, 14 May 2009 19:25:42 +0000 Kitten Whisperer 380836@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>It is so kind of you to help this poor mother cat, SS3. It sounds like she is trusting you more and more. Do you have any idea of how old her kittens might be? </p> <p>Unwanted pets can cause a big strain in any relationship. I'm up to three cats and my husband is starting to wonder about me. lol </p> <p>I hope this kitty brings her kittens to you. Keep offering her tasty food. She needs a lot of calories to take care of her brood. Can you set up a box with some soft bedding material, like a couple of towels? She might find that she would prefer to locate her kittens in something like that.</p> <p>You may be able to borrow a humane trap from your local animal shelter to trap this cat and her kittens once you've gained their trust. Do you have a no kill shelter in your area? A local shelter may have a spay/neuter program that would help with the cost of fixing the mom cat and her kittens when they are big enough. Trapping, neutering and returning feral cats to their original location is an excellent way of cutting down on the feral cat population.</p> <p>As far as finding homes for the kittens, a no kill shelter is an option. If you don't have a no kill shelter in your area, you can put an ad on Craigslist. Be sure to carefully screen people who apply so the kittens end up well-cared for. They shouldn't be placed until they are weaned from their mother at about ten weeks.</p> <p>Please check back for more suggestions from other members of the Daily Kitten. (Do you have a photo of the Siamese? We love pictures!) </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/17116#post-380834 Thu, 14 May 2009 19:17:16 +0000 nawlins catmom 380834@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>Tough choice - cats / husband / cats / husband..hehe. You might want to encourage momma to stay close, and bring the kits, by making a nice nest box for her some place safe in your yard - a large dog crate that can be under cover on a proch or back deck... or a dog house with bedding... good food and water nearby... She may move her kits in sooner than you think esp if it is still kinda cold! Do you think she is still nursing? Can you hear the kits anywhere? Can you spy on her when she leaves you? Don't rush her too fast or you may scare her off... The kits need to go to good homes where they too will be spayed/neutered! Good luck! I am sure you will get more posts soon... </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/17116#post-380825 Thu, 14 May 2009 18:49:35 +0000 sstauffer3 380825@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>Hi, I live in northern Indiana. all this past winter I have been feeding a beautiful siamese. I couldn't get near it, until tonight-she let me pet and hold her after she ate out of my hand. She is a nursing mommy cat. So, I presume that she was dumped this winter because she was pregnant. Here is where I need help<br /> 1. I already have a cat and a husband that refuses to have a second cat. I can't take her in. But I will pay for her spaying.<br /> 2. I don't know how to find the kittens to tame them.<br /> 3. I need good homes for the kittens.<br /> 4. My mother has had as many as 40 cats in her house in the past and that is what keeps my husband very firm on the cat issue. So, he is not a creep, just concerned.<br /> So, here I am stuck between my sympathy for this poor mother kitty and her babies and my marriage. Can anybody help with this? </p>